Machine for cutting and trimming selvedge thread loops



y 1949. s. E. VOLLENWEIDER 2,477,431

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND TRIMMING SELVEDGE THREAD LOOPS I Filed Nov. 12; 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 July 26, 1949- s. E. VOLLENWEIDER MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND TRIMMING SELVEDGE THREAD LOOPS Filed Nov. 12, :.1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 17M dame! July 26, 1 949,

S..E. VOLLENWEIDER 2,477,431 MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND TRIMMING SELVEDGE THREAD LOOPS Filed Nov. 12, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 26, 1949 MACHINE FOR' CUTTING AND TRIMIWING SELVEDGE THREAD LOOPS SamueI E. Vollenweider, Horgen, Switzerland Application November 12, 1946, Serial No. 709,216 In Switzerland May 3, 1946 7 Claims. 1 The present invention relates to a machine for cutting and trimming off change thread loops on the selvedge of coloured check fabrics. l Machines of the kind are in existence having in the range of the selvedge one or more knives fitted with hooks to facilitate the gripping of the change thread loops.

Such knives are, however, by experience liable to easily injure the selvedge. To overcome this drawback the present invention provides rotary gripping elements adapted to feed the loops formed ofthe change-threads to a cutting mechanism arranged in tandem with a trimming device for subsequent shearing off the thread ends close on the selvedge to which said device is brought by the gripping elements.

The accompanying drawing illustrates by way of example a preferredembodiment of the invention, in which i Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine,

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section taken on the line A-A of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right,

' Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken onthe lin ,BB'B'B of Fig. 1 looking down, and a Fig. 4 is a section of a selected part, taken on the line -0 of Fig. 1.

The machine illustrated comprises two independently operated devices. One of them cuts in two the change thread loops formed on the selvedge while the other trims off the threads of the loops cut in two. Both devices are mounted on a suspended casing, its axis of oscillation extending substantially parallel to the selvedge. The suspension enables it to carry the two devices close along the fabric edge.

Fixed by screws 4 to standard I which is supported on a footing member 2 is a forked bracket 3 from which the machine casing 5 accommodating the two devices is suspended by means of an oscillatory arm I bolted thereto at 6. For this purpose, the bracket arms provide bearings 8 each having at its upper side a groove 9, while at either side of the oscillatory arm bearing edges H] are fixed by screws I I, which engage in said grooves. On the vertical bars l2 of the suspended casing 5 two slides l4 and [4' are carried adjustable and fixable relative to each other. To this end the slides l4 and I4 carry each a screw bolt 15 and I5, fitted with a set nut I6 and I6, respectively. The set nuts l6, l6 are each rotatably supported but axially undis placeable on bearing eyes I! and I1, respectively, so that turning of i said nuts causes a vertical adjustment of the screw bolts l5, I5 and consequently of the slides l4, l4. l8 and I8 desig- 2 nate locknuts to secure in place the set nuts l6 and I6.

The slides I4, [4 have mounted thereon a cutting device which in its essence comprises two pairs of rotary members or grippers each fitted with a knife blade, being supported by two cases 20, 20 fixed by screws I9, l9 to said slides. In said cases two axes 22 and 22' are respectively supported onball-bearings 2|, 2|. On shaft 22 two gripping discs 23 of non-metallic material are fixed in spaced relation by means of nuts 24, while on axis 22 the gripping discs 23 are rigidly mounted by nuts 24. The discs 23' have each a circumferential groove formed between two ridges or flanges, while the gripping discs 23 each possess one ridge adapted to enter the grooves of the gripping discs 23. The ridges or flanges of said discs have evenly spaced notches or teeth 25. The discs of each gripping pair are in exact vertical alignment so that when rotating against each other, the teeth of the lower discs engage the selvedge of the moving fabric from below and those of the upper discs from above, gripping thereby the loops of the change threads.

The gripping discs are respectively driven by worm wheels 26 and 26' keyed between them to the axes 22 and 22. The worm wheels 26 and 26' respectively engage worms 2'! and 21"splined on a driving shaft 28. The latter is vertically supported in casing 5 by means of ball-bearings 29, 29, being driven by an electric motor 30 whose shaft end carries a slotted coupling sleeve 3| loosely connected to the driver of shaft 28. The gripping discs driven in opposition to each other through worm gears are so provided that their notches or teeth 25 engage the fabric in alternate succession. Between each pair of gripping discs is mounted ablade 33 with sloped edge disposed in juxtaposition to the fabric, said blade being disposed at right angles to theselvedge and parallel to the axes of rotation of the gripping discs. To guide the selvedge at gripping level, guides 34, 35 are respectively provided on supports 36 and 31 which also carry the blades 33. The supports 36, 31 are vertically adjustable on casing 5 and fixable by screws 38.

S designates the fabric as conveyed over bars or rods 39, 40 and M mounted on a support l3, each of them being provided with a toothed threading adapted to shift the fabric simultaneously towards the blade when fed inthe direction of the arrow. The change-thread loops of the selvedge conveyed past the gripper pairs are taken by the teeth of the gripping ridge, drawn over the edges of blades 33 and thereby cut in two. As the ridge of the counterdisc enters the V groove of one of the discs the selvedge is imparted a bend which facilitates the gripping of the change threads.

A trimming device adapted to shear off the threads of the loops cut in two and hanging on the selvedge i's'likewi'se mounted on. (raisin-g adjacent to the cutting mechanism.

The trimming device comprises in its essence a multi-blade shearing drum 42 and a counterblade 43 cooperating therewith. The trimming mechanism is supported by a slide M mounted.

vertically adjustable on casing 5., and a slide 45 adjustable perpendicularly to the selvedge by screw 46 turnably supported. but axially non-displaceable on holder 41 of the slide 44 threadedly' engaged by it. The slide 45 has mounted thereon an electric motor 48 which drives a shaft 49' journaled in slide 45. The shearing drum 42 is keyed to shaft 4 9; Arranged closeto the shearing drum, on slide 45, is a fabric rest or table'- 50. At the side of the shearing drum, a slide 51 is displaceabl y supported on slide 45 at right angles to the selvedge. A screw 53' turnably supported but axiallynon displaceable on a holdor 5-2- of' slide 45 serves to adjust the slide 5!- threadedly engaged by it. The counterblade 43 is supported by a slide 54' guided on slide 5i parallel to the selvedge. A screw 56 threadedly engaging the slide 54 and turnably supported but axially non-displ aceableon holder 55 serves to adjust the coun-terblade horizontally. In its accuratel y adjusted position, the slide 54 can be fined a screw 5-1. 58 denotes the support of the fabric rest 50, being vertically adjustable on time 5' and fixable by a screw 59 The slides 5E and 5 need only be l e-adjusted when the counterblade has been ground. I

The fabric fed over the table to past the shea ing drum pressed thereon in the range of the latter by a spring-loaded downholder Bil adjust-- able by nuts-6| above the spring 62.

63 marks a. dust absorbing port mounted on the back of easing" 5 to draw off the air from casing 5 in which the grippers. 23, 23"" work. The dnst absorbing port 63 lets out into an air suction channel 64 of slide 45,. through which the air isdrawn off from the. workin room of thesheardrum 42. Connected. to the. air suction channel W is a suction pipe 65 with hose 66 secured inv place by a holder 67 mounted on bar 4| The ch'angethread ends hanging on the selvedge are blown between the shearing drum 42*and the counterblade 43 by the blast of an air nozzle 68 sothat a safe gripping of the: threads by the blades is ensured. The air nozzle 68 is seated in a hose 68 connected to a. blast tubev and is retained by an adjustable holder II. A lighting body 12 is arranged on an adjustable arm 13. Dust and waste threads are carried off through the suction pipe 65. Air suction. and are produced by an'ord-inary industrial dust absorber disposed near the machine.

The fabric to be treated by the mechanisms described hereinbeiore is taken asusual from a folded or rolled condition and fed over a drawing cylinder into a preliminary trough serving as fabric reserve. Thence the fabric. goes over a damming or rubbing device past the cut-up and trimming mechanism and is folded or rolled up at the discharge end by devices of commonly known construction, the arrangement being such that several, say, eight difierent speeds may be imparted to the fabric, so that the machine may conveniently handle any style of fabric.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described for eliminating change loops from along the edge of fabrics and having means for moving said fabric along a predetermined path, the improvement comprising; a blade disposed; substantially in juxtaposition to the edge of' said fabric; a rotary member disposed substantially tangent to the blade and to said fabric and adapted to draw change loops against the blade so as to cut the same.-;,-supporting means for urging the moving fabric edge, against the rotary member and blade;

and" operating means for rotating said member simultaneous with the movement of said fabric along said; path.

2.v In a device of the character described for eliminating change thread loops from along the edge of fabrics and having means for moving said fabric along a predetermined path, the improvement comprising: a blade disposed sub-- stantially in juxtaposition to the edge of said fabric; a pair of rotary members disposed substanti-ally tangent to said blade and to one another" on: opposite sides of said fabric andadapted to draw change loops against the blade so as to out the same; and operating means for rotating said members simultaneous with the movement of said fabric along said path.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said rotary members are provided with loop-engaging teeth spaced about their peripheries.

4. The device of claim- 3 wherein the peripheries of said pair of rotary members are formed respectively as a ridge and as a groove within which said ridge is received.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said pair oi rotary members are each provided with adjusting means whereby they may be individually spaced apart from said blade so as to accommodate fabrics of 'difierent thickness. I

6. A device for cutting up and trimming off change thread loops on the selvedge of fabrics, including in combination: a supporting structure; elements adapted to guide the edge of said fabric in a predetermined path alon said structure; at least one pair of oppositely rotating gripping elements disposed adjacent said path tangent to said fabric and on opposite sides thereof, one of said elements having a'peripherai ridge: and said other gripping element having-a corresponding peripheral groove within which said ridge is received, both elements being provided with peripheral teeth, the teeth of the respective elements being disposed in. staggered relation to each other at theirclosest point; a blade mounted adjacent said closest point and disposed substantially in juxtaposition to said fabric edge; operating means for continuously moving the fabric along said path between said rotating gripping. elements; other means for simnltaneomsly rotating said gripping elements opposite directions so as to draw loops .of change threads against said blade so as to cut the same; adjustable means to space apart said gripping elements so as to accommodate differ- 'ent thickness fabric therebetween; and other cutting, means disposed tandem to said gripping elements'for severing the cutloops from the fabric. r

- '7. The device of claim 6 "wherein said other cutting means comprise 'a second blade disposed adjacent said path substantially perpendicular to saidfirst' blade. and a rotary shearing drum =op- 6 eratlvely mounted along said path so as to force UNITED STATES PATENTS the cut loops against said second blade. Number Name Date SAMUEL VOLLENWEIDER 1,915,595 Richardson July 21, 1931 1,880,487 Richardson Oct. 4, 1932 REFERENCES CITED 1,991,191 Piper Nov. 20, 1994 The following references are of record in the 2,099,461 Bernstein Nov. 16, 1937 file of this patent: 2,110,567 Burr Mar. 8, 1938 

